OAKLAWN NOTEBOOK
FEBRUARY 3, 2005
by Mark Weatherton
In a deviation from past years, Oaklawn Park is only running three-day
weekends for the first four weeks of the meet rather than just two
weeks. The 56-day meet will be conducted over a 13-week period and is
only one day more than last year.
The lone stakes race of the weekend, the $50,000 Dixie Belle, for
three-year-old fillies was run at six furlongs over a good track
Saturday.
Again we saw Steve Asmussen and Roman Chapa team for the victory to
give them a sweep of all three stakes of the young season. This win
was earned by MORE MOONLIGHT (More Than Ready), who recorded
her third stakes score.
Chapa settled the even-money favorite behind the leaders for a stalking trip
four
to five lengths off the pace then waited until turning for home before asking for a
run. When asked, More Moonlight quickly made up the five lengths and eased away to win by
3 3/4 lengths. We’ll likely see More Moonlight continue to face her
three-year-old counterparts in more prestigious events later in the meeting.
True Tails (Yes It’s True) had a solid outing on the lead but was no match down
the stretch for the winner. Dimple Pinch (Smoke Glacken) closed ground for
show money.
Calvin Borel notched his 3,993rd career win on Saturday, his 630th at Oaklawn Park, and
will join the 4,000 win club shortly. The lanky Borel has long been a fan
favorite at the Spa with many tipsters sharing the sage advice to “always bet
Borel on the rail.” He first rode here in 1989 and has won 14 percent,
with 37 percent in the money, of his career starts at Oaklawn.
Last year’s leading rider, John McKee, has taken a slim lead with
seven wins, one more than Tim Doocy. They are followed by Jamie Theriot and Willie Martinez, who each have
five victories.
Cole Norman and Bob Holthus have each saddled five winners and both Asmussen and
Tim Hooper have sent four to the winner’s circle.
HORSES TO WATCH
Friday (1/28)
9TH – This race for maiden special weight three year old fillies
was run at a mile distance and produce two notable but contrasting
performances. ISABELL’S SHOES (King of Kings [Ire]), who brought a record of
three seconds and two
third-place finishes in five starts into the race, broke from the very difficult 11-hole and went right to the front. She gained a four-length lead at the first
call then breezed to the wire while maintaining at least that much lead.
Her performance suggests that the filly is ready to successfully start up the
conditions ladder.
In contrast to the winner THE BOHEMIAN GIRL (Stephen Got Even), starting from the even more difficult 12 post, moved to the back of the bus and trailed 18 lengths
at the three-quarters pole. The debut runner from the Hugh Robertson barn rushed
home in :25 2/5 for the final quarter to capture place money by 3 1/4
lengths over the rest of the field.
Saturday (1/29)
2ND – HARRY THE PRINCE (Harriman) returned from a four-month layoff with his speed intact.
The seven-year-old gelding finished 2004 with two wins at the
$10k claiming level but jumped in here at $16k and pressed the early leader
before assuming command prior to the half-mile pole and cruising home. His final time
of
1:11 4/5 was the best for the distance turned in for the weekend. He is
moving to the Michael Gill stable and should soon be back on the track.
Sunday (1/30)
7TH – SNOWBIRD (Appealing Skier) began her career with a triple-digit
Speed
figure but then was off eight months before disappointing here last season. Now with her fourth barn she seems to have found some of that early promise
under the handling of Jerry Calvin. She had two starts at Hawthorne last
fall and both were solid races — a win and a place. In this start, off a two
month freshening, the four-year-old filly simply dominated these $15k claimers
by 9 3/4 lengths. She will probably re-appear at a higher level and should be
competitive.